Document text
Firefighters earn small victory Quartz blaze, for a day the top national priority, expected to burn 10,000 acres By PAUL FATTIG LITTLE APPLEGATE - Firefighters appear to be winning at least one battle against the Quartz Fire, temporarily named the top wildfire threat in the nation because of the potential for burning remote homes in the mountainous region. But digging in and holding the north flank of the 5,500-acre fire is far from a victory in the war to stop the lightning-caused blaze, which continues to march southeast, fire officials warn. "We've managed to hold the fire for two days now on the north flank without losing any ground," said Jeff Schwanke, head of the Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District. "That's real encouraging." But he hastened to add that, given the dry days, high temperatures and stiff afternoon winds, the fire still has explosive potential. "We still have to keep a close eye on it," he said. The Quartz Fire was named the top fire threat in the nation Monday by the National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho. But it was bumped to second Tuesday when an 8,000-acre fire on the Colville Indian Reservation in northern Washington became top priority after six homes were destroyed. Schwanke expects more growth in the fire's southeast section, but nothing that is likely to threaten the Ashland watershed. The eastern rim of the fire is about six air miles from that watershed. Jack Williams, supervisor of the Rogue River National Forest, where the fire is now burning, agreed. "We feel a little better than we have for the last two days," Williams said. "We feel we have a better chance of getting hold of the fire now." But the stiff winds that often kick up in the late afternoon still have the potential to unleash the fire's fury, he said. If the fire burns as expected, it will be stopped after scorching a little more than 10,000 acres, he predicted. "We want to start doing some backburning and take away the fuel from the fire," he said. "We feel like we've got some good resources now. There is still a high level of concern, but we're optimistic." An army of 1,600 firefighters and support personnel, all dressed in canary yellow firefighting uniforms, have been deployed to the battle zone. Cantrall-Buckley Park near Ruch, the staging area for the firefighters, has taken on the appearance of a military encampment. Four air tankers continue to drop fire retardant on the fire during the day. And 11 helicopters, each carrying a large bucket capable of holding up to 1, 000 gallons of water, are rumbling between the fire and water sources. Agencies are now spending about $1 million a day to battle the blaze. The fire has consumed about $3 million tax dollars thus far. The fire is now burning mainly in the Rogue River forest, although it continues to burn portions of Bureau of Land Management forestland and private parcels. The fire continues to spread to the south, but hasn't destroyed any structures since burning two homes and an outbuilding on Sunday. One firefighter suffered a minor back injury Tuesday while dodging a falling tree. Sparked by a dry lightning storm Thursday evening, the fire is centered about 15 air miles south of Medford. A bulldozer is being used to dig a contingency fireline near the California state line. The two homes burned were among the dozen in the Dog Fork area of Yale Creek, an area that is off the grid - not connected to power lines - and without telephone service. Anyone wanting to help the two households displaced by the fire can contact Spirit Gardens, 724 Yale Creek Road, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Most of the homes in the narrow, steep and heavily wooded area could not be defended safely by firefighters, officials warned. Access into the fire area is restricted to local residents. They had been warned to evacuate, but the evacuation was not mandatory. Schwanke and other fire officials briefed Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and 2nd District Congressman Greg Walden, R-Hood River, on the fire situation Tuesday evening at the Medford air tanker base. "If there is a silver lining on this fire, it's the fact we still have this air tanker base here," Walden said. He was referring to the Forest Service's plans to close the air tanker base at the end of this fire season as part of a cost-cutting measure. The agency intends to move the operation to Klamath Falls, a move many local residents oppose. "We want to demonstrate the need for having this tanker base here for the obvious reason they can get more water on a fire faster and more frequently," Smith said. But the fire also is a reminder that public lands have to be managed, he said. "All of this indicates an ongoing need that we need to manage our lands as best we can for wildlife and human life," Smith said. "We want to be able to mitigate in advance for possible fires." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.